And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabeshgilead, which had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:

2 SAMUEL 21:12KJV
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2 Samuel 21:12 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 21:12 mean?

2 Samuel 21:12 describes how David retrieved the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the men of Jabeshgilead, who had secretly taken them from the public place in Bethshan where the Philistines had displayed their bodies after killing Saul at Gilboa. David did this to give Saul and Jonathan a proper burial.

In this verse, David is acting as king, showing respect for Saul, Israel’s first king, and for Jonathan, his close friend. The men of Jabeshgilead had earlier risked their lives to recover the bodies from the Philistines, who had hung them in disgrace. David’s action is part of a larger effort to bring closure and honor to Saul’s family after a time of national hardship.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 21:12

  • בְּעָלֵי יָבֵישׁ גִּלְעָד (ba‘alé Yavesh Gil‘ad, “men of Jabeshgilead”): The word בְּעָלֵי (ba‘alé) means “owners” or “leaders,” highlighting the responsibility and bravery of these men in recovering the bodies.
  • גָּנָב (ganav, “stolen”): This word is often understood as “secretly took away” rather than theft in a criminal sense, emphasizing the risk and stealth involved in their act.
  • תָּלָה (talah, “hanged”): This word means to hang up, often for public display or shame, showing the Philistines’ intent to dishonor Saul and Jonathan after their deaths.

Why 2 Samuel 21:12 matters

  • This verse clarifies that David’s respect extended even to Saul, who had been his enemy, and to Jonathan, showing a commitment to honor and reconciliation.
  • The mention of Jabeshgilead connects back to earlier events (1 Samuel 31), highlighting the loyalty and courage of these men and the importance of proper burial in ancient Israel.
  • The verse sets up the context for the following verses, where David seeks to end a famine by addressing unresolved issues from Saul’s reign, showing the importance of closure and justice in Israel’s history.

Where else these words appear

“hanged” Hebrew H8511 · used in 3 verses

  • Deuteronomy 28:66 And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life:
  • Hosea 11:7 And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him.

“Bethshan” Hebrew H1052 · used in 8 verses

  • Joshua 17:11 And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher Bethshean and her towns, and Ibleam and her towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Endor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and her towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns, even three countries.
  • Judges 1:27 Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Bethshean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
  • 1 Samuel 31:12 All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.

“Gilboa” Hebrew H1533 · used in 8 verses

  • 1 Samuel 28:4 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.
  • 1 Samuel 31:8 And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa.
  • 2 Samuel 1:21 Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.

“Jabeshgilead” Hebrew H3003 · used in 21 verses

  • Judges 21:8 And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up to Mizpeh to the LORD? And, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabeshgilead to the assembly.
  • 1 Samuel 11:3 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee.
  • 2 Samuel 2:4 And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabeshgilead were they that buried Saul.